This year, on April 24, we celebrate the Slovenian Day without wasted food for the first time. We can also contribute a lot to reducing the amount of wasted food and thus prevent the unnecessary consumption of natural resources, money and packaging. By making small changes in the way we buy, cook and plan meals, we can save time, improve eating habits and, above all, help protect the environment.
How many times have you looked in the fridge and discovered a container far back that was there saved, overlooked and forgotten? For environmental, social and financial reasons, it is therefore recommended that food be consumed in its entirety. Here are some tips to help you with food consumption.
Plan your meals in advance
Meal planning helps you reduce food waste and food waste. Therefore, it is good in advance nplan what you will prepare and cook from store-bought ingredients. Above all, try to avoid impulse purchases. Planning not only saves time and money, but also improves your eating habits.
Check food and store it properly
While stacking new foods in the refrigerator, older foods always put in the foreground and in a visible place, as this reduces the risk of food spoiling before consumption. It is recommended to store leftover food in glass containers, as these allow the contents to be seen.
Store leftovers properly in the refrigerator or freezer.Photo: Elle Hughes / Pexels
Freeze food
Freezing is a great way to store excess and leftover food. You can store different types of food in the freezer - from vegetables, soups, various sauces and meat. However, it is not recommended to freeze dishes with rice, cheese, dairy products and fried food, as they lose their structure and nutritional value.
Make a new dish from the leftovers
A little imagination and creativity helps to prepare food from leftovers many delicious things. Vegetables can be used in various dishes such as vegetable soups, stews, pasta sauces, and fruit can be added to smoothies, pastries and compotes. If you have leftover beef, you can make it in the evening delicious salad. Or simply use the meat to prepare a variety of stews. The leftover chicken meat can be used to make delicious sandwiches the next day, and the chicken bones can be used as a chicken soup base.
Leftovers can be used to prepare new dishes.Photo: Louis Hansel/Unsplash
Saving bread
You can make it from stale bread bread crumbs and use them for breading. If the bread is not completely dry yet, cut it into cubes and use them to thicken the soup. You can also freeze the bread cubes and use them to make bread dumplings. Stale bread can also be used for preparation delicious breakfast – cut it into slices, dip it in egg and make French toast. Or you can drizzle it with olive oil, decorate it with tomatoes and roast it in the oven.
You can make delicious sandwiches from leftover food and bread.Photo: Victoria Shes/Unsplash
Create homemade compost
If you can't possibly use all the food, compost it. V homemade compost microorganisms break down food scraps and other biomass into dark, nutrient-rich compost, which is excellent for fertilizing the home garden. If you do not have compost, collect organic waste separately and place it in the designated containers.
